The Nightjar 



grey, streaked and spotted irregularly with brown. The 

 male has a white spot near the centre of each of the three 

 outer primaries, and the two outermost pairs of tail feathers 

 are tipped with white. These white markings are absent 

 in the female. The young practically resemble the female 

 Length 10'5 in.; wing 7"55. 



One example each of two other species of this family, 

 the Eed-necked Nightjar (Oaprimulgus ruficollis) and the 

 Egyptian Nightjar (Ccvprimvlgvs cegyptius) have been taken 

 in England. The first named is a native of Southern 

 Spain and North Africa as far east as Tunisia ; the breeding- 

 quarters of the other are in South-east Europe, Egypt, Nubia, 

 and Tunisia. In general appearance they both closely 

 resemble our common species ; the Red-throated may, how- 

 ever, be recognised by the tawny collar encircling the 

 head, and the Egyptian by the inner webs of the primaries 

 being pure white. 



THE WRYNECK 



lynx torquilla, Linnaeus 



Under the name of the " Cuckoo's Mate " this species 

 is well known in our southern and south-eastern counties. 

 Elsewhere in England it is rare or local, and in Scotland 

 and Ireland it is of very irregular occurrence. The name 

 " Cuckoo's Mate '' is derived from the fact that its arrival 

 usually coincides pretty closely with that of the Cuckoo, 

 namely during the first week in April, but in other respects 



V7 23 



